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Racing Update 13/5/19

The Yorkshire Cyclo Cross Association’s summer series kicked off in cool and damp conditions at Huddersfield on Wednesday. The flowing off-road course based at Newsome School being a good blend of technical sections, uphill efforts and off-cambers, all played out on wet spring grass.

The evening’s main race had 126 starters and Ilkley were led home by Arthur Wilson in 29th spot, followed up by 44th - Jason Bishop, 46th - Tim Bull, 79th - John McManus.

Disaster struck for Ian Cliffe, after a routine cyclo cross tumble resulted in a trip to A&E to find he had broke his fibia. Really bad news for Ian to miss the best part of the summer season to recovery.

Alba Rosa CC hosted Friday night racing at the local Brownlee race circuit at Lawnswood. The 3/4 category events are always well supported here and this was no exception with a big field of riders fighting it out in the hour long race.

Combative Richard Kelt scored his first licence points of 2019 with a fine 3rd place, with support from, 19th - Steven Gott, 21st - Dan Sharp, 22nd - Tom Asher, 25th - Michael Strange, 31st - Dan Wilkinson. A mechanical failure sent Paddy Carter over the bars onto the ground, and hopefully he will be fully healed for the next event.

In time trialling, veteran David Leckenby scored a season’s best of 55min51secs in the Drighlington BC 25mile event. The race was won by Bronte’s Stephen Ayres in 50min14secs, almost achieving 30mph average speed, and also taking a notable scalp by beating Olympic gold medallist, Stephen Burke MBE into second place by over a minute.

Meanwhile in the West Pennine 10 mile TT held near Clitheroe, Liam Rees clocked a creditable 25min05secs.